P&O Ports North America announces new operations at the Port of Tampa

Port of Tampa on May 30 as part of a partnership established earlier this year. Under two separate agreements, P&O Ports became the exclusive terminal operator of the Tampa Port Authority’s (TPA) public facilities for breakbulk and container cargo. P&O Ports and TPA are working together to increase the volume of cargo moving through the port, especially at the Hooker’s Point Container Terminal.

Larry Jones serves as General Manager at the P&O Ports Tampa operation with assistance from Marketing Director, Doug Wray. The facility handles a diverse range of cargos including automobiles and breakbulk. Approximately 2,000 automobiles are imported and exported at the Port of Tampa each month for manufacturers including Ford, Nissan, and Daimler-Chrysler. In recent months, the breakbulk business has seen record levels of steel coil, steel pipe, steel wire, steel beams, rebar, gypsum board, tomato stakes and hardboard imports. The Port of Tampa has truck, rail and berth access, a refrigerated cargo facility, and a substantial local market in one of the fastest growing regions of the country.

The Hooker’s Point Container Terminal has three new Gantry cranes and two berths with over 1,700 feet of berthing space. Key container commodities include imports of furniture, building supplies, foodstuffs, ceramic tile, aluminum sheeting, gypsum board, and medical supplies and exports of lube oil, feed supplement, wastepaper, and scrap metal.

Stephen Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer, P&O Ports North America, Inc. said “We are happy with our relationship with the Tampa Port Authority. I am confident that together we can help the Port of Tampa reach its full potential.”